- By Demola Atobaba, Ado-Ekiti
Determined to explore the benefits of Ekiti Arts and Culture for the economic advancement of the state, Governor Biodun Oyebanji led administration has concluded arrangements for construction of a befitting Cultural Center in Ekiti.
Speaking with newsmen in Ado-Ekiti at an open interaction with all Arts, Culture and Creative stakeholders on Tuesday, the state Commissioner for Arts, Culture & Creative Economy, Prof Rasaki Bakare, said the construction will commence in the next two months and be completed by November, 2024.
While noting that Ekiti is the only state in the country without a Cultural Centre, Professor Bakare said it will be a 700-seater capacity building with museum and gallery, a multi purpose hall, a sales point for arts and souvenirs, among others.
The Commissioner said the Arts Endowment Fund is designed to empower homebase Musicians, Dramatists, Creative Entrepreneurs in the state as part of the shared prosperity agenda of Governor Biodun Oyebanji.
Professor Bakare added that applicants who will be beneficiaries of the grants, will be subjected to assessment based on their capacity and competence alongside their experience of fund management.
While vowing that the selection of beneficiaries will be devoid of political afflictions, he urged interested applicants to apply for the grants, before the list of the successful candidates will be released by April 15.
His words, “The essence of the stakeholders’ meeting is to inform them of the major development in the sector and the approval that Mr Governor has given to make sure we touch the lives of our stakeholders.
“We have Art endowment fund, a grant that will be given to creative people who needs government assistance to be able to do their jobs.
“The Governor is also building a new Cultural centre as a working space for the makers of arts and culture in the state so that most of our stakeholders who don’t have a space to work will have that space to work at the cultural centre.
“We also have talent development project where young people who are talented will be given 5-month training and after the training, we will give them some money to start their businesses.
“This Arts Endowment Fund is a continuous thing, it depends on how money keeps coming in, from donors, government, we can’t really give figure.
“What is given to each person will depend on the project that the artist want to execute and his own capacity and competitence.
“You can’t give one million naira to somebody who can’t manage one hundred thousand.
“Also, the number of beneficiaries will depend on how many proposals we have and how many of the proposals are adjudged by experts as being competent.”
